Maluku refugees await promised aid

M. Azis Tunny, Masohi

Refugees from the Maluku conflict are still living precariously despite hundreds of billions of rupiah allotted by the central government to alleviate the problem.

In 2003, the government reportedly provided funds of Rp 176 billion (US$20 million) in addition to Rp 30 billion given in an earlier addition to the budget. This money does not include assistance from non-governmental organizations, donors and foreign aid.

Despite the money, data from Central Maluku's Social Welfare Office reveals there are 12,494 refugee families still in deprived circumstances scattered through 19 districts.

Many of these families say they have still not received any aid for resettlement or compensation for homes destroyed in the conflict.

One such family is that of La Jamudin, 50, his wife, Wa Nauke, 45, and their five children, who abandoned their home in Saru village, Saparua, on Feb. 17, 1999, when sectarian violence began to rock Maluku. "When we left our home in Saparua for Masohi we only brought enough clothing and the children's school certificates. We thought that it would only be temporary," Jamudin said.

The construction worker-cum-farmer and his family are now living in a small house they rent for Rp 70,000 a month. They have been living in the house in the Lesane suburb in Masohi, for more than two years.

Before that, they had been moving from one relative's place to the next. "We still don't know when the government will provide us with a house," he said.

Jamudin and Nauke have already asked for official help and have the proper documents. During government data collection for the provision of House Building Materials (BBR), Nauke went to Saparua to arrange papers stating they were refugees. Saparua subdistrict chief J. Titaley prepared the documents.

While waiting for the expected BBR aid, Jamudin borrowed Rp 1,800,000 to buy a small plot of land in nearby Haruru. He said that if the plot was developed and resold, it could fetch up to Rp 3,500,000.

"We've already borrowed money to buy a plot of land and to build the house's foundations because we thought we would be reimbursed. They promised us that they would give us the BBR aid if we possessed refugee status documents. But they're only promises. Frankly speaking, I'm not hoping much for government assistance. I have to work hard to support my family. If we don't work, we don't eat," he said.

Lesane subdistrict head Wahda S. said refugees living in her area would only be assisted if they were listed by the subdistrict and the social welfare office.

She said 62 refugee families in Lesane had received the BBR aid in early 2003, while there were still 399 families or 2,013 people on the waiting list. "The BBR aid will be provided in two stages. Only 62 families have so far been aided in the first stage," said Wahda. She did not say whether the Jamudin family was on the list.

The remaining refugees must report to the subdistrict office with their refugee status documents and land certificates to obtain the second stage of the BBR aid, she said.

Central Maluku Social and Welfare Office head Albert Wattimena said refugees in the Masohi regency numbered 12,494 families spread over 19 districts. Most of them were concentrated in the Teo, Nila, Serua, Amahai (TNS) and Masohi districts.

The office had provided 3,325 families with BBR aid in 2003, Albert said, but it had yet to determine when the families would get their BBR aid this year.

More than 1,000 families in Central Maluku were allocated BBR aid in 2004, which would be distributed to refugees in four districts -- Tehoru, Amahai, TNS and Masohi, he said.